Meet Anthony M. Thompson | Psychotherapist/Counselor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anthony M. Thompson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anthony M., we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I wanted to provide psychotherapy to a historically underserved population as a member of an historically underserved population. In my career, I had noticed the underutilization of mental health services by Blacks, especially Black men. While I serve all, I have a special place in my heart for serving Black people.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My company is named Moyo Behavioral Health, PLLC. Moyo means “life, well-being, good health” in the Ngoni language. I’m a licensed substance-abuse counselor and professional counselor in AZ who has been a professional helper since 2014, after earning my Master of Arts in Counseling, with a concentration in Trauma, Abuse, and Deprivation from Ottawa University that same year. I’m also a licensed counselor in Nevada. In 2022, I started Moyo Behavioral Health to provide culturally sensitive individual therapy for depression, anxiety, trauma, and substance use disorders, just to name a few. I integrate a racial-justice/cultural-humility approach in my work with clients.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Many times when family and friends come the Valley of the Sun, a.k.a. Phoenix, Scottsdale is the first place they would like to visit and I would agree. Scottsdale has some of the greatest accommodations and dining experiences one could ever find in both North Scottsdale and Old Time Scottsdale. Here are some recommendations for Scottsdale and Phoenix at large:

Great accommodations include Kierland Commons, J.W. Marriott Scottsdale, Mountain Shadows Resort, Talking Stick Resort, and the list goes on.

Great restaurants include Maestro’s Ocean Club, Morton’s Steakhouse, Seasons 52, Eddie V’s, Durant’s, Nobu, and so much more.

Great shopping includes Kierland Commons upscale designer shops, Scottsdale Quarters, Scottsdale Fashion Square, and many more.

Great cultural experiences that includes the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Museum of the West, the Heard Museum, Scottsdale Historical Museum, e Nobu and Maestro’s City Hall. Additional experiences that honor the African American experience include the George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, a premier cultural institution that is the stewards, honors and shares the heritage, arts, and culture, and Roosevelt Row – is located in downtown Phoenix’s walkable arts district, that offers art galleries, restaurants, bars, boutique shops, and popular events in the neighborhood.

Another fun activity in the Phoenix area is taking a vigorous walk on any one of Valley of the Sun’s picturesque hiking trails that include Camelback Mountain, Phoenix Mountain Preserve, Piestewa Peak, South Mountain Park, and many more.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to my wife, Melanie. Also, I would like to give a shoutout to the Black Therapists in AZ Coalition. In addition, I like to honor one of my inspirations, the late Drs. Kenneth and Mamie Clark, the psychologists who provided the scientific underpinnings to the psychological harm caused by segregation. The Clarks’ work was instrumental in the legal victory in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, KS.

Website: www.moyobehavioralhealth.com

Instagram: moyo_behavioral_health

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/moyo-behavioral-health-a97bbb27b